Imagining Life in Your 20s in 202312

Life Consideration Series §

20231231

• Premise

  • This is not a life plan.
    • Executing life exactly as planned is difficult, and there is no appeal in a harmonious and predictable life.
    • It seems meaningless to think about specific occupations or ways of life, akin to living in a foggy world.
  • To avoid getting lost without a direction, try sketching out a scenario once to use it as a compass.
    • Similar to thinking in terms of “narrative thinking” or “fortune-telling,” or imagining “how would your Wikipedia page look like,” which might increase the chances of success in life.
    • By having a scenario drawn out, one can perceive life in relation to it.
      • With a point of comparison, one can think, “I prefer this,” or “Essentially, they are the same,” among other considerations.
  • Additionally, wanting to grasp the sense of a 10-year time span.

• First, jot down various thoughts and feelings

  • What do you want to do in the first place?
    • Experimental creation and research
    • Involvement in fields like philosophy and computer science in a broad sense
  • Want to pursue a PhD program
    • Compared to a year ago, the world of VR/HCI academia seems very clear now
      • Attending conferences like UIST and CSCW, reading papers in classes, writing papers in labs, understanding how the academia system and community operate
      • How funding is secured, what kind of work people are doing
    • Considering choosing to engage in this framework/game after seeing that
      • There are many interesting people in PhD programs
      • Feeling the benefits of being in an environment where one receives money, has a mentor, and can conduct research
        • It is good to do things that may not immediately generate money but still receive financial support.
  • On the other hand, not wanting to end one’s life in their twenties just by competing in academia
    • Want to do things other than research
      • And, based on one’s personality, feeling the desire to do so
  • Want money
    • No desire to ride luxury cars and live in high-rise buildings
    • However, wanting financial stability to have the flexibility to have new experiences, start new things, and involve others when desired
    • Watching examples like Researchers Who Get on Board Themselves to Win Budgets and Positions and TeaRoom岩本さん, it seems that with inherent abilities, exploration of possibilities, and initiative, one can find ways to attract money to pursue their interests
      • Business vs Research in 202312 Life Consideration

• Scenario

  • 2024 (20 years old)
    • Spring
    • Fall: Take a break from studies
    • Run multiple research projects on Asymmetric Reality simultaneously
  • 2025 (21 years old)
    • Spring
      • Resume studies
    • Fall
  • 2026 (22 years old)
    • Spring
      • Senior year
    • Fall
      • Additional semester? If possible to live in NY while completing remaining credits
      • Graduation
    • PhD application, job hunting, finding investors, etc.
  • 2027 (23 years old)
    • Need to solidify what research or business to pursue; otherwise, there won’t be much to build on in the future
  • 2028 (24 years old)
  • 2029 (25 years old)
  • 2030 (26 years old)
  • 2031 (27 years old)
  • 2032 (28 years old)
  • 2033 (29 years old)
    • If going directly to a PhD program after undergraduate graduation, consider graduating around this time
  • 2034 (30 years old)

=> For now, head to Considering First Career After Graduation in 202402